Attachment for raisin-stemming machines.



PATENTED JULY 4:, 1905.

J. T LATTA. ATTACHMENT FOR RAISIN STEMMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 'NOV.1,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor)? Jkwaf [5422312,

Witnesses Rttcmegs No. 793vfi39- PATENTED JULY 4 1905.

J. 'l. LATTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR RAISIN STEMMING? MAGHINESH APPLICATION FILED mov. 1,10%.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses Patented duly it, 11995.

PATENT @Fl lChlt JAMES T. LAT'TA, OF tllCLMA, CAlJlliORNlA.

Aii i'AtDHIVIENT FOR FlAl$lN-STEIMMlNtfi WiMUHiNEQ...

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,839, dated July d, 1905.

Application filed November 1, 1904. Serial No. 231,011-

-"0 all whom, it may eon/007%.-

lie it known that 1, JAMES T. LA'rrA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Selma, in the county 01 Fresno and State of California, have invented a new and useful Attachment for .htaisin-Sten'nning Machines, oi. which the fob lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved at tachment t'or raisin-stemming machines.

The object of the invention is to provide for the automatic return oi raisins which by the operation of the machine are blown over the tail end of the same to the front draper or endless carrierin order that they may be again run through the machine and recleaned.

With this and other ends in view. which will be readily apparent as the nature oi the invention is better Ul'lLlGlSiJOOLl, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination oi parts, which will be hereinafter i ullydescribcd,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment oi theinvention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that the right is reserved to any changes, alterations, and modifications to which recourse may be had within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the elliciency oi the same.

in said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a raisin-stemming machine having the improved attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the device Which constitutes the attachment and through a small portion of the adjacent side oi? the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the device which constitutes the attachment at a diilerent point and showing the method of supporting or suspending it from the frame oi the machine. Fig. 4: is a detail view of a portion of the attachment.

Corresponding parts in the several iigures are indicated by like characters of reference. The raisin-stemming machine to which this invention is applied has been designated in the drawings by the letter it, and it is to be understood that in this machine as a whole no novelty is claimed in the present application. Detailed description of the said machine is therefore unnecessary exceptas to such parts which directly cooperate with the present invention. Among these parts may be named the endless carrier or draper 1, upon which the bunches oi raisins are placed to be carried to the stemming mechanism, and the shaking-screens 2 2, which are suspended from the frame of the machine by means oi links t and 5 and which are connected by means oi cross-pieccs 6, so as to be operated in unison by means of a pitman-rod 7 one end oi which is pivotally connected at 8 with one of said cross-pieces and the other end of which is con nected with a strap El, (mgaging an eccentric 10 upon a driven shaiit l1.

At the tail end oi the machine is disposed a box or casing '12, the bottom oi. which is formed by an inclined trough 13, open at its lower end to constitute a spout over which material may be discharged to one side oi the machine.

.Pivotally connected with uprights Lat oi the iirame of the machine are a pair of hangers 16, each having a horizontal portion 17, terminating in an upturned. lug l8. These hangers support an elongated trough 19, which is preferably constructed of sheet metal with a wooden bottom and oi any desired dimensions. The rear hanger 16 is provided with a plurality oi? perforations 20 for the reception oi the pivotal pin or bolt 21 in order that it may be adjusted vertically for the purpose of adjusting or regulating the tilt or incline oi the trough 19, which should be about one and one-hall inches to the foot. The upper end of the trough 19 is provided with a flange or guard 22, disposed adjacent to the delivery end oi the spent 13 in order to prevent material from being spilled. The lower end of said trough 19 terminates in a laterally-eatending chute 23, disposed to de liver onto the lower end of the draper 1. The trough 19 is connected with the horizon tal members 17 oi thehangers 16 by means of staples Qehdriven into the bottom of the trough, lateral displacement of said trough being prevented by the lugs 18. To the under side of the trough at an intermediate point which is in alinement with the link 4: are secured bracket members 25, the inner ends of which are spaced apart, as at 26, to straddle and engage the said link. The outer ends of the bracket members 25 are upturned to form lugs 27, which abut upon the outer edge of the trough or conveyer 19. v

From the construction just described it will be seen that when the machine is in operation and the screens are vibrated a vibratory or reciprocatory motion will be imparted to the trough or conveyor 19 by the link 4: engaging the forked end of the bracket member 25. Raisins which are blown over the tail end of the machine will be intercepted by the casinglEZ and will be conveyedover the chutelike bottom 13 of the latter into the trough or conveyer, whereby they are returned to the front end of the machine and deposited upon the draper 1 to be again operated upon.

In the class of machine to which this invention is applied it is necessary in order to effect the desired separation to employ a strong blast, and it is not unusual for a considerable quantity of raisins to be blown over the tail end of the machine and to drop upon the floor. These tailings it has been customary when a sufficient quantity have accumulated to gather in a box to be manually returned to the front end of the machine to be a second time operated upon. By the present invention the tailings are automatically returned to the front end of the machine and the labor of gathering and returning them is dispensed with. A

special advantage thereby gained is that the product Wlll be of a more even grade than when the tailings are gathered and a considerable quantity of the same run through the machine at any one time.

The improved device which constitutes this invention is extremely simple in construction and may be manufactured at a comparatively trifling expense. It is capable of being readily applied to raisin-stemming machines of various kinds with satisfactory results.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. An attachment for raisin-stemmingmachines consisting of an elongated trough terminating at its lower end in a laterally-extending chute in combination with hangers having lateral extensions terminating in upturned lugs, and staples driven into the bottom of the trough around the lateral extensions of the hangers.

2. The combination with a raisin-stemming machine having an endless carrier or draper and provided with a tailings-trough having an inclined discharge-chute and with shakingscreens and links supporting the same, of an elongated trough having its receiving end disposed under the discharge end of the tailingstrough and terminating at its discharge end, a chute extending laterally over the draper, pivoted hangers suspending said trough from the frame in an inclined position, and bracket members secured to the under side of the elon gated trough and cooperating to engage one of the screen-supporting links.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. LATTA.

\Vitnesses:

LOUIS N. KIRKMAN, BENJ. G. MATTUX. 

